29/01/2013 La Pintada (594m) to Supia (1243m)
D61, T3.5, Av 15.53 T10469
Arising early and keen to head off, low and behold the front tyre was three parts flat. Upon removing it from the rim it was found that a tiny piece of wire from a steel belt radial was the culprit.
The early start was blown. After repairing it, breakfast was enjoyed in town with a guy who worked on the roads. He was waiting for a bus to Barrenquilla, on the north coast.
By now the time was 0800, the heat of the day was on the way. Crossing the Cauca a left turn was made to get me to Supía. The road followed the river for the early part.
My tyre was still slowly leaking, about 20 minutes and it would need air. I put up with this for 24k. Around a bend was a sign for Piscado natural. Stopping here for a couple of sodas, the tube was repatched. The owners had a home made swimming pool receiving water from a creek next to their property. They allowed me to have a swim. It was divine, quite cool compared to the pools at the Comfenalco camp ground.
The woman at the property told me she sold no water and the water they had was not potable. Using the Katyden water filter, repaired from last year, water was drawn from the swimming pool. No other choice was avaliable. It tasted ok.
From here on the road started climbing, the heat was increasing and water supplies were decreasing, as was my energy.
The country side above the road was dry, though below the road down to another river, lushness prevailed on the slopes that were not cleared.
It was soon found the front tyre was still very slowly leaking air. Putting up with this and arriving at a fork in the road, one way to Supía and the other to Menizales.
A few small plastic bags of water were purchased at one of the many vendors at this junction.
The woman told me it was all uphill from here. Losing vital energy from pumping the tyre up every 20 minutes, shade was found and a new tube was fitted with the help of two guys who had been resealing the road. One of them kept the old tube.
By now the heat was oppressive, my energy levels were ebbing. Some one third up the hill an energy gel was consumed. By this time I was walking and had been for sometime and continued to do so till the top of the hill.
They don’t call them push bikes for nothing. More drink was bought at another stall further up . Always asking the distance when I saw someone. The replies stayed at 5km for an eternity!
On the uphill side of the road were men working in sugar plantings that went for ever up this incredibly steep mountain. What do I have to complain about? Five eighths.
Reaching Supía and booking into the first spotted hotel ,the Hotel del Sol (recommended) on the north side of town, a ground level room was gladly occupied.
Earlier coming up the range, though sweating I was cold, heat exhaustion had accompanied me. It was a strange feeling, my choices were few, moving on was paramount.
In the room it was unusually chilling getting under the shower. I felt somewhat beside myself, had that filtered water impact on my well being. I hope not.
I was not hungry but just couldn’t stop drinking sodas.
The days total was at least 10 including coke, gaseous lemon, as well as water.
Wandering the 500m into town the thirst had not let up, four iced coffees were consumed, still no appetite and somewhat nauseous.
Some fried chicken was consumed, though not enjoyed. Buying a couple of new tubes and a make shift part for the front pannier racks, taxi was taken back to the motel.
It had been a day that made me consider this exhaustion aspect, this can’t happen too often it was decided. The need to ditch more equipment was also pondered.
D61, T3.5, Av 15.53 T10469
Arising early and keen to head off, low and behold the front tyre was three parts flat. Upon removing it from the rim it was found that a tiny piece of wire from a steel belt radial was the culprit.
The early start was blown. After repairing it, breakfast was enjoyed in town with a guy who worked on the roads. He was waiting for a bus to Barrenquilla, on the north coast.
By now the time was 0800, the heat of the day was on the way. Crossing the Cauca a left turn was made to get me to Supía. The road followed the river for the early part.
My tyre was still slowly leaking, about 20 minutes and it would need air. I put up with this for 24k. Around a bend was a sign for Piscado natural. Stopping here for a couple of sodas, the tube was repatched. The owners had a home made swimming pool receiving water from a creek next to their property. They allowed me to have a swim. It was divine, quite cool compared to the pools at the Comfenalco camp ground.
The woman at the property told me she sold no water and the water they had was not potable. Using the Katyden water filter, repaired from last year, water was drawn from the swimming pool. No other choice was avaliable. It tasted ok.
From here on the road started climbing, the heat was increasing and water supplies were decreasing, as was my energy.
The country side above the road was dry, though below the road down to another river, lushness prevailed on the slopes that were not cleared.
It was soon found the front tyre was still very slowly leaking air. Putting up with this and arriving at a fork in the road, one way to Supía and the other to Menizales.
A few small plastic bags of water were purchased at one of the many vendors at this junction.
The woman told me it was all uphill from here. Losing vital energy from pumping the tyre up every 20 minutes, shade was found and a new tube was fitted with the help of two guys who had been resealing the road. One of them kept the old tube.
By now the heat was oppressive, my energy levels were ebbing. Some one third up the hill an energy gel was consumed. By this time I was walking and had been for sometime and continued to do so till the top of the hill.
They don’t call them push bikes for nothing. More drink was bought at another stall further up . Always asking the distance when I saw someone. The replies stayed at 5km for an eternity!
On the uphill side of the road were men working in sugar plantings that went for ever up this incredibly steep mountain. What do I have to complain about? Five eighths.
Reaching Supía and booking into the first spotted hotel ,the Hotel del Sol (recommended) on the north side of town, a ground level room was gladly occupied.
Earlier coming up the range, though sweating I was cold, heat exhaustion had accompanied me. It was a strange feeling, my choices were few, moving on was paramount.
In the room it was unusually chilling getting under the shower. I felt somewhat beside myself, had that filtered water impact on my well being. I hope not.
I was not hungry but just couldn’t stop drinking sodas.
The days total was at least 10 including coke, gaseous lemon, as well as water.
Wandering the 500m into town the thirst had not let up, four iced coffees were consumed, still no appetite and somewhat nauseous.
Some fried chicken was consumed, though not enjoyed. Buying a couple of new tubes and a make shift part for the front pannier racks, taxi was taken back to the motel.
It had been a day that made me consider this exhaustion aspect, this can’t happen too often it was decided. The need to ditch more equipment was also pondered.
Alluvial gold mining upstream on a tributary creek, three totally different colours were seen indicating the parent material being disturbed. A man told me they find very little. Ellos esperan!!
Oh so refreshing, not water entering via pipe in background, from here it went on back to the creek.
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Wherever possible, a rest was enjoyed
El centro, Supía
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